Power lawn mower



March 21, 1933. l., B. ROTH 1,902,524

POWER LAWN MOWER Filed Jan. 12, 1931 '2 Sheets-Sheet l March 21, 1933. L.. B. ROTH POWER LAWN MOWER AFiled Jan. l2, 1931 2 .Sheets-Sheet 2 .A 5. POT/v INVENTOR IE-E A TTORNE Y 4Patented Mar. 2l, 1933 PATENT OFFICE LESTER .'B. 30TH, 0F PROIHETSTOWN, ILLINOIS TOWER' LAWN MOWER Application led January 12, 1931. 'Serial No. 508,075.

clutch by means of which the power unit isA connected to the ground wheels, or driving wheels, of the lawn mower; to provide separate clutches for the driving wheels and the cutting reel so that the former may be actuated alone or the two may be actuated tov gether; and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the construction disclosed herein. My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the 'accompanying drawings and, while I have shown therein what is now considered the preferred embodiment of this invention, I desire the same to be understood as illustrative only and not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

In the drawings annexed hereto and formin a part hereof,

ig. 1 is a plan view of my limproved mechanism, the same being shown in solid lines in conjunction with a conventional lawn mower of this type, the latter being shown in dotted lines' Fig. 2 is an end v1ew of the structure shown in Fig. 1, as viewed from the left in that figure;

Fig. 3 is asimilar view side of Fig. 1; v,

Fig. 4 is a section substantially along the plane indicated by the line 4 4, Fig. 1;

from the right Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portion of the control mechanism taken in the direction indicated by the line 5 5, Fig. 1.

I am aware that many patents have been granted on lawn mowers which carry their own power units, either in the form of an electric motor or an internal combustion motor, but I believe that my present construction is an improvement over suchprior constructions. In my construction a suitable frame is carried by a pair of ground wheels and an internal combustion motor 1 and gasoline tank' 2 are mounted upon this frame. The crank shaft 3 of the motor 1 extends laterally therefrom and carries at one end a sprocket wheel 4 which is connected by a sprocket chain 5 with a s rocket wheel 6 carried by the main drive s aft 7. However, the sprocket 6 is not directl connected to the shaft 7 but is connected thereto through a clutch 8 by means of which'the sprocket 6, which runs continuousl when the motor is running, is connected 1n driving relation with the shaft 7. Inasmuch as the clutch is of a well known type, it is not considered necessary to makea disclosure of the structure thereof in this connection.

A sprocket 9 is connected to the shaft 7 and a s rocket 10 to the driving shaft 11 uponw ich aremounted pinions whereby the ground wheels 12 are driven. Therefore, when the clutch 8 is put into4 driving condition, power is transmitted from the` crank shaft 3 of the engine to the drive shaft 7 and from this to shaft 11 and the ground wheels 12. Likewise, when clutch 8 is out of driving condition, the mower will be permitted to stand still.

A handle 13 of the lawn mower, by means of which the same is steered, has a sleeve 14 secured thereto and through this extends a substantially cylindrical wooden handle 15 surrounded by a pair of collars 16 and 17. These collars prevent the handle 15 from sliding endwise through the sleeve 14. Also, an eye-bolt 18 passes through the collar 17 and handle 15 and secures the same together. A link comprising the sections 19 and 20 and the turnbuckle 21- connects the eye 22 of bolt 18 with crank arm 23 of c utch 8. Therefore, about its axis the eye 22 is carried with it and causes reciprocation of the link. This causes oscillation ofthe crank arm 23, re-l sulting in the clutch bein put into operative and inoperative positlons. A brace 24 95 serves to stay the clutch 8 and its shaft 7 with relation to the top or cover plate 25 of the frame. As illustrated in Fig.l 1, a bracket 26 is mounted on plate I25 and to this the brace 24 is connected by a bolt 27. 10%l as handle 15 is rotated 90 I Cooperatin with the opposite end of shaft is a c utch 28 through which power is transmitted to a sprocket 29. From the latter power is transmitted through the` lever 40 mounted on the handle 13, as indi cated at 41. The lever 40 and handle 42 together form a crank for the actuation of the link 39 and, ultimately, the clutch 28.

It will be seen from the foregoing that when the handle 15 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 the engine may be running but the lawn mower will not be driven. Assuming the engine to be running, the handle 15 is rotated forwardly to put the clutch 8 in operative position and the lawn mower will then be driven, being propelled forwardly by the motor. When the motor has reached the place where it is desired to start cutting grass, the crank 42 is pulled upwardly and backwardly which results in putting the clutch 28 into operative position, thus causing the cuttin reel to be driven.

It will be seen rom the foregoing that 1 have provided a machine which will accomplish the objects set forth herein.

Having now described my invention, I

claim:

1. Control mechanism for a power lawn mower having an engine comprising an idler shaft carried by the lawn mower, clutch mechanism associated with said shaft for transmitting power from the shaft of the engine to the idler shaft, a drive -shaft for the ground wheels of the lawn mower, driving connections between the idler shaft and the drive shaft, a shaft carrying the cutting reel of the lawn mower and driving connections between the idler shaft and the reel shaft, said connections including a clutch for completing or releasing the connection '5.0' between the idler shaft and the reel shaft.

2. A control and power transmission mechanism for a power lawn mower having y a reel carried by a shaft, comprising a main power transmission shaft, two clutches associated therewith, one for transmitting power to the shaft, and one for transmitting power from the shaft to the mower reel shaft, a driving connection between the mower engine and the first mentioned clutch whereby power may be transmitted from the motor shaft to the power shaft, through the clutch, a rotatable handle member and connections therefrom to the first mentioned clutch whereby the clutch may be put into operative and inoperative positions, a drive shaft for the mower ground wheels, a permanent drivin connection, between the power shaft an said drive shaft, a driving connection from the second mentioned clutch to the shaft of the cutting reel, control meansmounted on the handle of the mower and connections between said control means and the second mentioned clutch whereby vsaid second mentioned clutch may be put into operative or inoperative positions so that the cutting reel may be caused to rotate with the transmission shaft or left inoperative, notwithstanding rotation of the motor shaft.

3. A control and power transmission mechanism for a power lawn mower having a shaft upon which a cutting reel is carried, comprising` a main power transmission shaft, two clutches mounted thereon, one for transmitting power to the power transmission shaft from the motor shaft and one for transmittingpower from the power transmission shaft to the mower reel shaft,.a driving connection between the mower engine and the first mentioned clutch whereby power may be transmitted from the motor shaft to the power transmission shaft through LESTER B.. ROTH. 

